French Verb Focus: Lire (To Read)

Lire is an irregular verb but not one of the most difficult to learn. Remember that the past participle is lu, and the rest should come quite easily. It is of course a useful verb to know.

PRESENT TENSE

Je lis – I read, I am reading
Tu lis – you read, you are reading (singular, familiar)
Il lit – he reads, he is reading
Elle lit – she reads, she is reading
Nous lisons – we read, we are reading
Vous lisez – you read, you are reading (polite, plural)
Ils lisent – they read, they are reading (m.)
Elles lisent – they read, they are reading (f.)

PERFECT TENSE (PASSE COMPOSE)

J’ai lu – I have read, I read, I did read
Tu as lu – you have read, you read, you did read
Il a lu – he has read, he read, he did read
Elle a lu – she has read, she read, she did read
Nous avons lu – we have read, we read, we did read
Vous avez lu – you have read, you read, you did read
Ils/Elles ont lu – they have read, they read, they did read

FUTURE TENSE

Je lirai mes notes avant l’examen. – I will read my notes before the exam.
Tu liras ton discours? – Will you read out your speech?
Il le lira dans le journal. – He’ll read about it in the newspaper.
Elle lira des histoires aux enfants. – She will read stories to the children.
Nous lirons entre les lignes. – We will read between the lines.
Vous lirez dans le jeu de vos enfants. – You will see what your children are up to.
Ils liront en lui à livre ouvert. – They will (be able to) read him like an open book.
Elles liront l’avenir dans les lignes de ta main. – They will read the future in your palm.

CONDITIONAL TENSE

Je lirais ces livres si j’avais le temps. – I would read these books if I had time.

IMPERFECT TENSE

Je lisais le journal tous les jours. – I used to read the newspaper every day.

IMPERATIVE

Lis la lettre. – Read (tu form) the letter.
Lisons cet article. – Let’s read this article.
Lisez tout ce que vous pouvez. – Read (vous form) all that you can.

SUBJUNCTIVE

Il faut que je lise ce livre avant dimanche. – I must read this book by Sunday.

With thanks to Elizabeth Allen